smashing

comparative more smashing · superlative most smashing

1. Serving to smash (something).

   The boxer delivered a smashing blow to his opponent's head.

2. IrelandUKWonderful, very good or impressive.

   We had a smashing time at the zoo.

   1 more example

   Um, the reason for this call is because I haven’t told you for seven hours that I love you, which is a scandal! And even if we weren’t getting married tomorrow, I’d ask you to marry me anyway. Yes I would, because you are smashing!

   2010, Toby Whithouse, “The Vampires of Venice”, in Doctor Who, season 5, episode 6, spoken by Rory Williams (Arthur Darvill)

plural smashings

1. The breaking or destruction of (something brittle) in a violent manner.

   Some Greek dance is traditionally accompanied by the smashing of crockery.

   2 more examples

   Incoherency had overtaken his speech, but he was unaware of it. Nor did he connect the smashing of a bottle with the generous curve of his transit.

   1913, Norman Lindsay, A Curate in Bohemia, Sydney: N.S.W. Bookstall Co., published 1932, page 117

   As soon as this danger was appreciated there followed a nervous smashing and chopping of triffids everywhere, until it occurred to someone that all that was necessary to make them harmless was the removal of the actual stinging weapon.

   1951, John Wyndham, The Day of the Triffids, Harmondsworth: Penguin Books, published 1954, page 43

2. The destruction or disintegration of something by being smashed.
3. The hitting of something extremely hard.
4. The complete and sudden ruin or ruination of something.
5. idiomaticinformalAn overwhelming victory or success.
6. The deformation of something through continuous pressure.
7. slangvulgarAn act of sexual intercourse.
8. archaicslangA disastrous failure of something.

1. gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of smash